Vaccine Hesitancy An Issue In Medford, Health Officials Say

MEDFORD, MA — More than 22,000 residents were fully vaccinated by the end of April, but vaccine hesitancy remains an issue in Medford, health officials say. This is a roadblock in getting businesses and social activities up and running at a pre-pandemic pace, according to the Board of Health.

"Our goal is to address any concerns or misinformation and educate the public on vaccine safety and public health guidelines while acknowledging the roots of the hesitancy toward the Covid-19 vaccines," Board of Health Director MaryAnn O’Connor said in a statement. "The vaccines approved by the FDA are a marvel of modern medicine and the more people who become vaccinated, the quicker we can move past the pandemic and begin to get back to a more normal way of life."

Still, Medford is ahead of the state and on pace with the national average, with nearly 40 percent of its population fully vaccinated. Over 60 percent of residents, or 35,000 people, have received at least one dose, which is ahead of the state figure at about 50 percent.

According to data from the city, over 55 percent of white residents have been vaccinated, compared to 46 percent of Asians, 30 percent of Black residents and 43 percent of Hispanics. Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn and the Board of Health say they are focusing on areas of education and transparency to address the chasm in vaccination rates.

The city will be producing a video PSA with community leaders, faith-based organization, city workers and residents recounting their experiences living through the pandemic and the importance of getting vaccinated.

"It’s our job as public servants to keep our residents safe, and these vaccines are a critical tool in achieving that mission," Lungo-Koehn said in a statement. "While it’s encouraging that so many residents have taken advantage of vaccine clinics here in Medford and throughout the region, the data continues to show that vaccine rates particularly among residents of color are lower, and we remain committed to doing all that we can to provide education, resources, transportation, advice, and any other support needed to increase vaccine rates across our community. The Board of Health has done so much work to date, but we are refocusing our efforts to provide even more support and resources as needed."

In addition to vaccine hesitancy, the city is tracking other barriers to access, such as transportation to and from regional sites and accessibility of registration resources due to language or computer literacy.

While the state's 2-1-1 line is available to all for registration assistance, there are also local options in Medford. Staff at the Medford Council on Aging and the West Medford Community Center are available by phone to assist with registration and/or transportation, and the Medford Housing Authority can provide direct assistance to residents of MHA buildings.

The city also has a mobile program to vaccinate home bound residents, their caregivers and others living at home with them. To date, 249 home bound residents have received at least one dose and 188 are fully vaccinated, Lungo-Koehn said.

For more information on the city’s response to the pandemic, statistics on COVID cases and vaccinations, as well as the most up to date guidance, visit medfordma.org/coronavirus-information. To register for the vaccine visit https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/.

Editor's Note: A previous version based on a release from the city had incorrect data regarding vaccine rates by ethnic background. The story has been updated to reflect the latest numbers.